Guard rail end suspension



Feb. 16, 1943. v I w s FERGUSYON I 2,311,220

GUARD RAIL END SUSPENSION Filed D ec. 31, 1940 FIG-I FIG-2 ail 2 nrfis 33; i x i In z INVENTOR WILLIAM S. FERGUSON ATTORNEY I Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNlTED STATES PATENT or ies GUARD RAIL END SUSPENSION William s. Ferguson, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application December 31, 1940', Serial No. 372,595

(01. ass-13.1)

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in guard rail construction, and more particularly in the end suspension of a guard rail.

Guard rails are now coming into general use along the highways utilizing continuous lengths of fiat steel strip erected with the longer dimension of the strip vertical so as to provide an uninterrupted surface for engagement with a vehicle which may leave the highway. The customary manner of securing such strips at the end of the guard does not provide a connection adapted to stand the full stress of the strip when subjected to tension. My improved construction does not depend upon bolts passing through the strip and secured to the end post or to a dead man but instead provide for the passing of the strip of full width about the end post thus providing a very strong construction. My invention also provides novel spring suspension at the ends of the guard rail strips and other novel-features as will appear from the accompanying drawing and specification.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the end of a guard rail partly broken away to more clearly show the construction; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 1; while Fig. 3 shows a modification; and Fig. 4 shows a second modification.

The highway guard shown herewith comprises a continuous strip of fiat steel 5 which extends for some distance along the side of a roadway or the like and is attached at one end to a post 6. My invention provides a connection between the strip and the end post comprising a loop 5a formed in the end of the strip 5 and passing entirely around the end post. This loop is of the full dimension of the strip 5 and is adapted to transmit the full tension developed by the strip. The loop may be formed by passing the free end of the strip 5 about the post 6 and then securing the free end to the main length of the strip by a connection 1 which is formed'in such a manner as to develop the full tensile strength of the strip 5. In the form here shown rivets or bolts 1a are pro vided of suiiicient diameter and number to provide the necessary strength as will be understood by those skilled in this art.

In Fig. 3 the loop 8 which is the equivalent of the loop 5a is formed by a separate strip of metal of the same dimensions as the strips 5 and 5b and both ends of the loop are secured to the strip 5b by a joint 9 having a suflicient number of rivets or bolts 9a so that the joint or connection 9 will stand the full tension adapted to be transmitted by the strip 5b.

In the form of my device shown in Figs. 1 and2, I provide novel spring means for tensioning the strip 5. This spring means acts between the loop 5a and the face of post 6 away from the strip 5. In the form shown this spring means comprises a pair of flat springs H) and l I. These springs have their longer dimension extending in the direction of the vertical face of post 6 and both springs if desired my be secured to the loop 511 by a bolt H2. The spring It] in its unstressed condition would be, for instance, about twice the dis tance from post 6 as that shown in Fig. 1 and is stressed to the position there shown in the assembling of the guard rail. This provides a spring having two rounded end lobes 10a, the free ends of which may be bolted to the post 6 as shown at i3. The ends of spring ll ride within the lobes Illa as the springs are stressed due to varying tension of the strip 5.

Obviously a blow on the strip 5 will causesprings I0 and H to flatten toward the post 6 to resist the pull of the strip 5 and it is conceivable in extreme cases that the springs might be pulled tight against the post. 6 whereon the loop 5a would sustain the entire load which is capable of being transmitted by the strip 5.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the loop 8 passes entirely around the post 6 with no spring interposed between. In this case it is desirable that some spring tension means be provided either close to the post 6 or more removed therefrom if desired. One form of such spring means suitable for location intermediate the ends of the strip 5 is shown in Fig. 3 as comprising overlapping plates 5 and 5b having slotted openings I4 near the ends thereof through which passes one or more bolts 15 thus providing a pin and slot connection permitting relative endwise movement of the strips. One or more helical tension springs I5 is connected between the point lBa on the strip 5b and the point I61) on the strip 5. This spring urges the strips in overlapping direction.

Obviously if the spring I6 is located in the position shown in Fig. 3, it provides a tension at the end of the guard rail fully equivalent to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. However, better results may be obtained by placing the spring l6 some distance from the end post 6 so that the tensioning effect of the spring will be available for a length of guard rail on either side thereof.

One of the advantages of the construction shown in either modification is that a smooth and continuous guard rail strip of full vertical dimension is provided clear up to the very limit of the end post. In other words there is no gap between the end post 6 and the point where the guard rail begins. Also in the case of Figs. 1 and 2 there is a resistance to impact if a portion of the automobile should engage the end spring construction H), H instead of striking the strip 5 or the loop 5a.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another modification wherein the guard rail 5 extends between end posts 6 with a loop 8 of the guard rail passing around each end post. Intermediate spring takeups are interposed along the guard rail as indicated at H. These may be of the type shown in Fig. 3 or where necessary to provide greater strength they may be of a somewhat stronger type which is described and claimed in my c-- pending application Serial No. 372,596, filed December 31, 1940. In any case such spring takeup assemblies will provide overlapping guard rail strips such as those shown at and 5b in Fig. 3 secured together by a pin and slot connection as shown at M and I5, Fig. 3, permitting relative longitudinal movement between the connected guard rail strips, together with spring means fastened in the position of the spring l6 of Fig. 3 urging the joined ends of the guard rail in overlapping direction.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, the spring take-up I! at the left side of the figure may be placed near the end loop 8 in all respects similar to the construction shown in Fig. 3. A novel feature of my invention, however, is the use of the spring take-up I 7 shown at the right side of Fig. 4. This take-up is located intermediate the ends of the guard rail and generally some distance from the end post 6 so as to permit the tensioning eifect of the spring take-up to be exerted over a considerable stretch of guard rail at both sides thereof. For instance the right-hand spring take-up of Fig. 4 indicated at I! might be 250 feet from the end post 6 and the spring is made sufilciently strong to exert a tensioning effect over this entire distance. In such case the connection of the rail 5 with the intermediate posts is of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 372,594, filed December 31, 1940, wherein a pin and slot connection is provided between the strip 5 and the intermediate post support. This connection permits longitudinal movement of the guard rail relative to each intermediate post so that the tensioning eflect of the spring take-up I1 is efiective along a considerable length of the guard rail. Some specifications require a possible stretch or movement longitudinally of the strip 5 of one inch per hundred feet of rail and. it is possible with the construction here shown to provide a considerable length of rail between the end posts 6 with only spring take-up I! located in approximately the center of the run and yet provide the necessary stretch or tension required.

What I claim is:

1. In guard rail construction, the combination of an end post, a fiat guard strip ending thereat and secured thereto with its flat face vertical, said strip having a loop passing around said post, a fiat spring between said loop and said post in position to tension said strip, said spring having rounded ends secured to said post, and a second fiat spring extending lengthwise of said post and having its central portion secured to said loop and having free end portions adapted to slide on said rounded ends as said second spring is stressed.

2. In guard rail construction, the combination of an end .post, a flat guard strip having a loop passing around said post with its fiat face vertical, a fiat spring between said loop and said post, said spring having its flat faces substantially at right angles to the general direction of rail extension, and said spring having lobes above and below said loop holding said loop spaced from said post, said lobes extending beyond the end of said loop to hold it in definite position relative to the ground.

WILLIAM S. FERGUSON. 

